Philippines Earthquake: Rescuers Race Against Time as Death Toll Rises in Cebu
Philippines Earthquake: Rescuers Race Against Time as Death Toll Rises in Cebu
BOGO, Philippines — Emergency services are in a desperate race against time, utilizing backhoes and sniffer dogs in a frantic search for survivors amidst the devastation left by a powerful earthquake in the central Philippines. The confirmed death toll has tragically climbed to at least 72, with over 200 injured, and authorities fear the number could rise significantly.
The 6.9-magnitude quake struck late Tuesday evening, trapping an unknown number of residents in collapsed structures across the hard-hit city of Bogo and surrounding rural towns in Cebu province. Search and rescue operations are severely hampered by sporadic rainfall and extensive damage to critical infrastructure, including bridges and roads.
On Wednesday night, teams clad in hard hats worked tirelessly under spotlights, sifting through a perilous mix of concrete, wood, and twisted metal at a collapsed building in Bogo, though no survivors were located. Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, deputy administrator for the Office of Civil Defense, emphasized the urgency in a Manila briefing Wednesday morning, stating, “We’re still in the golden hour of our search and rescue. There are still many reports of people who were pinned or hit by debris.”
The shallow depth of the earthquake, centered just 12 miles northeast of Bogo—a coastal city of approximately 90,000 where half of the reported deaths have occurred—contributed to its destructive power. The Philippine government is currently assessing damage and considering whether to appeal for international assistance, Alejandro confirmed.
In a mountain village plagued by a landslide, Bogo city disaster-mitigation officer Rex Ygot reported early Wednesday that workers were struggling to transport a backhoe to accelerate rescue efforts among a cluster of shanties. Glenn Ursal, another disaster mitigation officer, noted the hazardous conditions, confirming that some survivors from the mountain village had been hospitalized.
Further fatalities were reported in Medellin and San Remigio, where collapsing walls and falling debris claimed the lives of three coast guard personnel, a firefighter, and a child who were attempting to flee a basketball game disrupted by the temblor. This earthquake marks one of the most powerful to strike the central region in over a decade, occurring while many residents were asleep or at home.
A brief tsunami warning for the coastlines of Cebu, Leyte, and Biliran provinces was issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology but lifted within hours as no waves materialized. Despite this, thousands of traumatized residents spent the night in open fields and parks, refusing to return home even amidst intermittent rains.
The region had barely begun to recover from a tropical storm that struck Friday, causing at least 27 deaths and widespread power outages. Schools and government offices remain closed in affected areas as building safety inspections are underway. Over 600 aftershocks have been recorded since Tuesday night’s main quake, with Director Teresito Bacolcol of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology warning that rain-soaked mountainsides are now highly susceptible to further land and mudslides.
“This was really traumatic to people. They’ve been lashed by a storm then jolted by an earthquake,” Bacolcol lamented. The Philippines, situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and frequently hit by typhoons, remains one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations.
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.